Victoria Livestock Show parade is back on

To register for the parade

To fill out the entry form, visit victorialivestockshow.com and click on the forms and flyers button. The deadline for parade entries is Feb. 18. The parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 22 in downtown Victoria.

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: Victoria City Council

• WHEN: 5 p.m. Tuesday

• WHERE: Council Chambers, 107 W. Juan Linn St.

• FOR INFORMATION: VictoriaTX.org

The Victoria Livestock Show parade is back on for Feb. 22.

Last week, livestock show officials announced the parade was canceled because of low participation numbers, shortage of man hours and limited funds to rent barricades to block side streets along the parade route.

Show officials announced Wednesday that they decided to have the parade after receiving a public outpouring of support for the parade.

Members of the community came forward asking how they could help keep the parade a part of the Victoria Livestock Show, said Robin Janecka, advertising/marketing chairwoman for the show.

"It's great that so many people stepped up and wanted to help," Janecka said.

The barricade issue came up when the city's parks and recreation department decided to enforce a long-standing policy to use city barricades only for city events such as Bootfest, street dances, Market Days and the holiday parade.

The livestock show officials determined they would need to rent 56 barricades for the parade route and did not have the money budgeted for the rental expense and did not have the help to set up and take down the barricades.

Now that the volunteers and barricades for the parade are covered, Janecka said all that is left is parade participation.

"Hopefully, we'll get participation and entries from the community," Janecka said.

The newest Queen Victoria, Elissa Kraatz, said she was surprised and a little disappointed when she heard there wasn't going to be a parade this year.

She participated in the parade as a young cheerleader and looks forward to riding on the Queen Victoria Court float along with the other pageant winners.

"I'm really excited for the year to come," Elissa, 16, said. "We have a lot of great things planned for the community."

Being a part of the parade and the Victoria Livestock Show is something the young queen said she is proud to be a part of because she will be a role model for younger girls and because it's a big part of the community.

Nicholas Rodriguez, parade chairman, said entries will be accepted until Feb. 18.

The downtown parade, which will begin at 10 a.m., will follow its usual route.

Line-up will begin at 8 a.m. on Main Street at Goodwin Avenue. The parade travels down Main to Church Street, down Church and then up Bridge Street. It will end at Goodwin and Bridge, according to the stock show's website.

A city spokesman said he hopes the community will help other groups who have used the barricades in the past as well.

"We would like any group that has been using the barricades to continue hosting their events," O.C. Garza, city spokesman, said.